What if, even after you follow expert tips, the perfect fit still eludes you? You can buy your clothes a size larger and have them taken in.

Here, Ken Grippi, a technical consultant and a tailor for Dependable Cleaners, a New England–based chain, details prices for some typical modifications. The cost of alterations can vary greatly, though, depending on the difficulty of the service and the shop providing it.

Shorten sleeves on a dress shirt: $19.

Shorten sleeves on a jacket: $23 (without buttons) to $28 (with buttons).

Take in the body of a jacket: $40 (two seams) to $52 (three seams).

Take in a dress shirt: $20.

Adjust the shoulders of a jacket: $35.

Hem a skirt or a dress: $14.50.

Hem a pair of jeans or pants: $10.

Take in a sheath dress: $45.